How to Choose the Right Colour Scheme for Your Home in Caterham

Choosing the right colour scheme for your home can feel like a daunting task—especially with so many beautiful shades and tones to pick from. Whether you're redecorating a single room or giving your entire Caterham home a fresh new look, the colours you choose will set the tone, mood, and atmosphere for years to come.

As local painters and decorators working in Caterham, we've helped countless homeowners transform their spaces with well-chosen colour palettes. Here’s a guide to help you do the same.

Consider the Natural Light in Your Home

Light plays a huge role in how colours appear. A soft grey in one home might look blue in another, depending on the direction of the sunlight. Here's a quick guide:

• North-facing rooms tend to be cooler and darker, so consider warmer tones like creams, yellows, or soft terracottas.

• South-facing rooms get plenty of sunlight, allowing you to use cooler tones like blues and greys without the space feeling too cold.

• East-facing rooms benefit from morning light, so pale blues, greens, and neutrals work well.

• West-facing rooms glow in the evening light, which pairs nicely with warmer tones.

Think About the Room’s Purpose

Different colours evoke different feelings. It’s worth thinking about how you want the space to feel.

• Living rooms and dining rooms: Warm neutrals, greens, or rich earthy tones create a welcoming, cosy atmosphere.

• Bedrooms: Soft blues, pale greens, and muted purples can encourage calm and relaxation.

• Home offices: Clean whites or light blues promote clarity and focus.

• Kitchens and bathrooms: Light, fresh colours like whites, creams, and pastels keep things feeling bright and clean.

Find Inspiration from Your Surroundings

Caterham is surrounded by natural beauty, from the North Downs to quaint village streets. You might find inspiration in:

• The green tones of nearby countryside walks

• The warm, traditional hues of historic buildings in town

• The soft greys and creams of modern Caterham interiors

Even your own furniture, artwork, or a favourite rug can inspire the base of your colour scheme.

Use the 60-30-10 Rule

This is a simple formula interior designers often use:

• 60% of the room is the dominant colour (walls)

• 30% is the secondary colour (upholstery, curtains)

• 10% is the accent colour (cushions, accessories, artwork)

It creates a balanced look without everything being too matchy-matchy.

Test Paint Samples the Right Way

Don’t skip this step—paint a few large swatches on different walls in the room and see how they look at different times of the day. Paint can change drastically depending on lighting and surroundings.

Need Help Choosing or Applying Your Colour Scheme?

If you're still unsure which colours will work best in your home, we're here to help. As experienced painters and decorators in Caterham, we’re happy to offer advice on choosing a palette that suits your space—and we can bring your ideas to life with a flawless finish.

Contact us today for a free consultation and let’s give your home the perfect colour makeover. Call 01293 369124